asesinaron
ah-seh-see-NAH-rohn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Los testigos dijeron que los hombres lo asesinaron en la calle.
B1The witnesses said that the men murdered him in the street.
Las noticias reportaron que asesinaron al embajador durante su visita.
B2The news reported that they assassinated the ambassador during his visit.
¿Por qué asesinaron a tantas personas inocentes en esa guerra?
B2Why did they murder so many innocent people in that war?
💡 Grammar Points
Identifying the Speaker
This form, 'asesinaron', always refers to a group: 'ellos' (they, masculine or mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal).
Preterite Tense (Simple Past)
This verb form tells you the action (murdering) happened once and finished completely at a specific point in the past. It's a completed past event, not an ongoing habit.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Forms
Mistake: "Using 'asesinaban' (imperfect) when referring to a single, completed event."
Correction: Use 'asesinaron' for a finished action ('They murdered him yesterday'). Use 'asesinaban' only if describing a past habit or setting a background scene ('They were murdering people during that decade').
⭐ Usage Tips
Passive Voice Context
Often, 'asesinaron' is used impersonally to avoid naming the killer, translating to 'The person/figure was assassinated,' but using the active 'they' in Spanish.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: asesinaron
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'asesinaron' to describe a finished past action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'asesinaron' the same as 'mataron'?
They both mean 'they killed,' but 'asesinaron' (to murder/assassinate) specifically implies premeditation and malice, often for political reasons or money. 'Mataron' (to kill) is a more general term that could include accidents or self-defense.
How do I know if 'asesinaron' refers to 'they' or 'you all'?
In most of Latin America, 'asesinaron' refers to 'ustedes' (you all, formal) or 'ellos/ellas' (they). In Spain, 'vosotros/vosotras' (you all, informal) is used instead of 'ustedes', so 'asesinaron' almost exclusively refers to 'ellos/ellas' (they).